File case



x Feb. 19; 1929. 1,702,789

A. H. MEMMLER FILE CASE Filed Feb. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 WW' WWW/W IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, '1929.

v v A. H. MEMMLER- FILE: CASE Filed Feb, 15, 1926 2 Sheets-5heet 2- IN VEN TOR.

37 3 U2. BY a; ,LW

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

U N EDY-I T E S I A Aiming. MEMMLER, or

i i I FIl ILE Application filed am-1 This invention relates tofile cases forthe filing'and' storage of drawings, prints, delicate laces and sheet fabrics of a similar nature. In United States Patents Nos. 1,135,- 310 and 1,165,108, granted to me, I have disclosed a'file case and drawing holder for this purpose' The primary object of my present invention is to provide a file case having various new and novel improved features Dot'disclosed in my said patents.

My'Patent No. 1,135,3101disclosesa file case. with an overheadtrack on which is 'm'ounted'for traveling movement a plurality of depending supports having file carrier frames pivoted thereto. My present invention provides a similar joverheadtrack and I supports but mounts the pivoted carrier frames on carriages movable on the supports transversely of the overhead track. Such a construction permits each support to be moved individually-out of theggroup of supports and their framesto a position where the samecan be conveniently manipulated. It'is an object of my inventionto provide such an improved construction.

' A" further object of the invention is to provide an improved carrier frame and improvedmeans cooperating therewith, for re movablyisupporting several individual file holders thereon and for clearly indicating the contents of each holder. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved file case of the above stated type, which is particularly adapted for use in combination with a vault.

With the above and'other objects 'in' view, as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the" following specification and illustratediin the accompanying drawings. In such drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of thisspecification, I have illustrated certain specific embodiments of my invention,*but it will be understood that the invention canloe otherwise embodied and that the drawings are notto be construed as defining or. limiting the scope of the in- 'vention, the claifms appended to the specification being relied upon for that purpose Referring to the figures of the drawing I Figure 1- is a fragmentary elevation of my improved file case showing the file holders -P -ATENT' oFFlcE. slicRA mnm'o, dilemma;

Y Y i 1 5, 1926. Serial No. s's,e14.

in end elevation, one file carrier frame being shownin the 'closedpositi'o'n and another in the open: position. Figure'2 is a sectional III'I of Fig. 1. y Figure 3 is'a like view butshowing the parts inanother position.

view taken on line -F Figure 4 s a view takenon'line IVIV of Figure 5 is a sectional View through a vault showing my invention mounted therein.

Figure '6-fis a fragmentary sectional'vi'ew taken on line VI V I of Fig. 1'. 7

I Figure 7 is an end perspective view of'one of theltubular drawing holders. A I

Figures is a fragmentary sectional'view taken on line VIIIVIII ofFig. 4.

In the drawings, l indicates the two 00- operating portions of an overhead track, which'portions can be secured to an overhead support such aslthe ceiling 2 of a vault. A plurality of'hange rs 3, each hanger including twodownwardly extending portions orplates, 4, are slidably mounted on the track portions 1. Two track members 5, relatively spaced vertically and extending transversely jof t-hetraclr 1, are mounted yon the members '5 are hung from the members 5 by means of. l -bars 12, theI-bars extending upwardly through the slots 10 in the members 5 and downwardly through like slots in the members 11. The top and bottom faces "of each I-bar engages respectively against the bottoms and tops of the rollers 9 in the members 5 and' ll. The innerfaces of the I- bar'flanges are supported on ball bearings I 13. Studs 14 are provided for preventing the balls 13 from escaping from the channel bars.

rear plates17, is mounted on the two channel bar members llby boltsjl8 and 19. A file carrier'fr'ame 20 is pivoted tothe carriage 15 at 21 and is'm'ovable about the pivot to the vertical and'horizontalpositions illus- A carriage'including front plates 16 and I trated in Fig. 1. The frame is held in the vertical position by a pair of spring latches 22 and its swinging movement is limited by engaging against the plates 17. While I have illustrated the frame as adapted to swing to a horizontal position, it will of course be understood that the swinging movement thereof can be limited toany other angular position desired, as for example, that shown in my afore-mentioned Patent No. 1,135,310.

The carrier frame is adapted to receive and hold therein a plurality of file holders 23, each file holder being adapted to hold a plurality of fabrics or drawings such as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 88,215, filed February 15, 1926. The frame is provided with end flanges 24 and 25 and horizontally extending flanges or shelves 26. Each holder 23 is adapted to be placed within the frame on a flange 26, the rear end of the holder engaging within the flange 24. The front end of the holder is stepped at 27 and provided with a hole 28 therein for receiving the pin 29 of a spring latch 30. These spring latches are mounted on the end flange 25 as seen in Fig. 1.

A plate'31 extends along the flange 25 rearwardly of the latches 30 and an opening 32 is provided therein opposite each file holder receiving position. A slot 31 is provided rearwardly of the plate 31 for receiving an index strip. This strip is marked at positions which appear through the openings 32 in a manner clearly indicating the contents of eachfile holder, and with numerals corresponding to the numerals on the ends of the respecive file holders. The carrier 20 and track members 5 are provided with flanges 33 and 33 on their rear faces for spacing the same from the adjacent frame and the carrier has a flange 34 on its front end providing a handle.

The use of my improved file case. may be briefly indicated as follows. The track 1 can be supported in any manner desired, as for example, it may be secured to the ceiling of a vault or safe 35 as seen in Fig. 5, or several tracks can be arranged in tiers either vertically or horizontally or both. The track 1 extends transversely of the opening 36 into the vault, whereby the ends of the file holders having index numerals thereon and their corresponding indicating strips are seen through the safe opening. It will be understood that several carrier frames 20 and their supporting carriages are mounted on the track 1 closely adjacent each other. In the normal storage position, the carrier frames are held in the vertical position by the latches 22, the drawings, or other fabrics 37 having their ends secured in the holders 23 and hanging downwardly in overlapping relation as illustrated. It should also be particularly noted that the plates 4 carrying the frames are so mounted on tracks 1 that no lateral movement of the frames is permitted whereby a frame might interfere with its adjacent frames.

When it is desired to secure a drawing, the frame holding such drawing is drawn outwardly to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. The arrangement of the channel and I-bars, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, permits such movement as will be understood. Such movement is limited by the balls 13 and studs 14. In the outwardly drawn position the frame is firmly supported by these bars and the roller and ball bearings 9 and 13.' When the desired frame is drawn outwardly free from the other frames, the latches 22 are lifted and the frame permitted to pivot to the horizontal position. In this position the drawings of each holder hang downward independently in a manner permitting any holder to be removed without interference.

For the purpose of accommodating fabrics and drawings of varying lengths, I preferably provide holders 23 varying in length. For example, I may construct holders 30 inches long, 24 inches long, 18 inches long, etc. Independent frames of a length to receive these different holders can be provided, or the 30 inch frame such as shown in the drawing can be provided with means for also holding the tubes 23 of shorter lengths. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated means for serving this purpose.

A metal strip 38 is secured to the frame 20 six inches from the flange 24. This. strip is notched at- 39 at each tube holding position. A clip 40 is secured to each notch, where it is desired to support a short tube. This clip is provided with a flange 41 and is secured in place by bending a pair of fingers 42 around the strip. When secured in place, the same is adapted to support a tube in the manner indicated in Fig. 8, the flange 41 supporting the tube in the same manner as the flange 24.

It will therefore be seen that my inven tion provides an improved file case wherein drawings and like fabrics can be stored in a vault in a very compactand classified arrangement. And the mechanism furthermore provides means for readily selecting any drawing desired and for very readily getting such drawing without inconvenience or interference with the other files stored. The improved system saves time, space, and patience, and keeps the drawings flat. No special index is needed,-for the index marks cooperating with the ends of the files, are in plainview and discernible from the distance that the index marks at 32 are legible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A file case comprisin the combination of an overhead track, a plurality of downwardly extending hangers slidably mounted thereon to move longitudinally thereof, a carriage mounted to slide on each hanger transversely of the track, a carrier frame adapted to support a plurality of file holders, pivoted one to each carriage for movement from a vertical position toward a horizontal position, and means for retaining the frames in the vertical position and limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

2. A file case comprising the combination of an overhead track, a plurality of downwardly extending hangers slidably mounted thereon to move longitudinally thereof, a carriage mounted to slide on each hanger transversely of the track, a carrier frame one for each carriage pivoted to each carriage for movement from avertical position toward a horizontal position, means for retaining the frames in the vertical position and limiting .the pivotal movement thereof, and a plurality of fileholders carried by each carrier frame.

3. A file case comprising the combination of an overhead track, a plurality of downwardly extending hangers slidably mounted thereon, longitudinally thereof, acarriage mounted to slide on each hanger transversely of the track, a carrier frame one for each carriage pivoted to each carriage for movement from a vertical position toward a horizontal position, means for retaining the frames in the vertical .position and limiting the pivotal movement thereof, and means for removably supporting a carrier frame.

4. A file case comprising the combination of an overhead track, a plurality of downwardly extending hangers slidably mounted thereon to move longitudinally thereof, an I- bar hung for longitudinal movement along each hanger, a carriage hung for longitudi nal sliding movement along the I-bar, the Lbar extending transversely of the said track and movable across the same, a carrier frame pivoted to each carriage for movement from a vertical position toward a horizontal position, and means for retaining the frames in the vertical position and limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

5. A file case comprising the combinationplurality of file holders on the toward a horizontal position, and means for retaining the'frames in the vertical position and limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

6. In combination, a carrier frame mounted for pivotal movement from a vertical position toward a horizontal position, a plurality of horizontal supporting shelves disposed along the intermediate portion of the frame and terminating short of the ends of the same for respectively supporting a plurality of openings communicating with the said slot and exposing the index strip at the points where the file holders are supported.

8. In combination, a carrier frame, means extending along the sides of the frame for removably supporting a plurality of file holders in theframe in horizontal position, a strip extending across the frame between the said holding means and in spaced relation with the same and provided at intervals with recesses, and a clip adapted to be arranged at the said recesses and embracing the strip and provided with a flange adapted to engage one end of a file holder for retaining the same in engagement with one of the said file holding means. v

9. In combination, spaced overhead track members, a plurality of hangers extending across the space between the track members and supported by and slidable along the same and having depending portions, a carriage slidably mounted on each hanger and movable transversely of thetrack members, and a file carrier frame carried by each carriage.

10. In comb nation, spaced overhead track members, a plurality of hangers extending across the space between the track members and supported by and slidable along the same and having depending portions, a carriage slidably mounted on each hanger and movable transversely of the track members, and a file carrier frame pivoted to each carriage for movement from a vertical position towards a horizontal position.

. ARTHUR H. MEMMLER. 

